The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-04
MR. DAVIS on CALHOUN.
1hs Confederate ChleftalR's Views OF
the Father Of State Rights.
A Btreng Repudistisu or tho Idea
That Calhoun was q Dis
unionist.
ysGsrrsn Davis 10 the North American
Review for September.

RSNAoW bNiNumVtts
Grateful appreciation Of the ser.
vices and veneration for the charac
ter OF a distinguished statesman ha,
overcome the reluctance belongins
TO o consciousness OF inability to dc
adequate justice to the theme. A
long personal acquaintance would
enable me to say much learned il
friendly intercourse, but | shall rely
upon those official records which AT,
within the reach o! all who choose K
consult them.
No public man has been more mis-
understood and misrcpresented thar
Mr.. Calhoun. Not unfrequeutly ht
has been described as a "hair.split,
ting abstraotionist," "sectionalist,
and "d,sunionist." That he wa,
eminently wise aud practical, that hi,
heart and his mind embraced tn,
whole country, that he was ardentlJ
devoted tn the Union Of the Consti.
tuition as our fathers made and con.
strued it, his official acts and pub
lished speeches clearly demonstrate
The subject Of this sketch was Of
Scotch Irish descent, a stock charac.
terised by sturdy integrity, intrepid
ny and intellectual yigor. They have
been represented In our history by
Presidents Monroe and jackson, aud
many distinguished in the civil aud
military service.
Mr.. Calhoun was born in 1882, the
last year Of the Revolutionary war,
and while negotiations were pending
which Terminated in the treaty OF
peace, recognizing the declared
sovereignty aud independence Of the
several States, late colonies OF Great
Britain.
Al .le time OF his birth the State
Of his nativity, South Carolina, was
q member oil tho confederscy styled
the United States Of America," be-
ing bound BY articles OF confedera.
ton aud perpetual union between the
States enumerated. Rocked in the
cradle OF the Revolution, his earliest
years amid the shouts Of people
triumphant in their liberation from
foreign rule, and the enjoyment Of
community Independence, may he
not fairly DO regarded as having ira
bibed with his first sensations the
belief in State rights, maintained
with such ardent devotion in defiance
OF all the clamor which pursued him
TO the end Of his life, aud stops not
even at his grsve'
RARLr LIrE.
Reared in q rural district OF South
Carolina, with such preparation as
the country schools OF that day could
give, he entered Yale College aud
was graduated with distinction,
evinsing at that early period the OK
act aud analytic character Of his
mind by Q special proficiency in
mathematics. He read law as q pro-
lessor, but practiced little, and at an
early are became the Representative
OF his district in the House OF Rep.
resentativss OF the Legislature Of the
State. aud subsequently n Repre-
sentative in the Congress OF the
United States. He entered the
House Of Representatives in 1911, q
period OF intense excitement, OF
depredations upon our commerce
and upon the rights OF seamen, citi.
sens oil the United States, which had
aroused q Just spirit OF resistance.
The policy Of non intercourse no
longer satisfied the proudor spirits
among our people; but, timidity aud
selfshness aAgnifying the danger OF
eonnie, with Great Britain, CON
tended, both in aud out Of Congress
for further federation OF the ills VIZ
had sooner than brave those W,
knew not o." IL was such a tim,
a. this that naturally brought for
ward men who loved their couu
try, their whole country, aud VIII
would as soon fight for the commsrc
and sailors OF New Eogland as
they had belonged 10 their ow
State Or section; aud thus Il wa
that, foremost Of those who advo
Gated defiance 10 Great Britain, an
war with all-its consequences, stoo
Calhoun, of South Carolina, an
Clay. Of Kentucky. so ardent an
effective we're Calhoun's invocation
a. TO cause q jcer TO be thrown q
those advocating the protection q
our sailors, as "backwoodsmon VIII
never saw a ship ill convened here.
Mr.. CAlhoup claimed that such sym
patty was sommcndablc, and said
1T constitutes our real union, Oh
rest 10 form; the wonder, in fact. o
the other side. Since il can not b
denied Aha, American citizens ar
held In foreign bondage, how strang
that those who boast OF being neigh
bors aud relations should be dead {
all sympathy" la his speech Dc
cembsr IL 1911, he put 10 his OF
ponents tho searching question
Which shall we do, abandon or a,
lend our Commercial aud maratim
rights aud the personal lii
critics Of our citizens employo
In exercising theml' Again he AZ
swers 10 the excuse OF those VIII
opposed preparation for war by reI
resenting the deicnseless state
the country Tor which the maiorit,
not the minority, was TO be held r,
sponsible, aud said ut il no le,
the duty Of tho minority than a M
ority TO endeayor TO defend III
country. FOR that purpose we al
sent here, and not for that Of Of
position" Ia the same spirit
broad patriotism he rebukol tho,
who were pleading against the necel
sary expense which would attcn
armed opposition. But il may b
and believe was, said that the pe,
pie will not pay taxes, because N
rights violated are not worth deicn,
ing, for that the defense will co
more than the gain. Sir, ont,
my solemn protest The
IL, cir, one principle necessary
make Us = great poople-to produ,
not the form, but the real spirit
union-and that is TO protect eve
oitisen in the lawful pursuit Of h
business"
Alter tho war of 1912 had la,